Forbidden Passion

Phoebe sat by the window, looking out at the bustling, lively street. It was a weekday, and office workers were coming and going in a hurry.

Harper continued, "When we got married, my parents had just passed away from illness, and I was in a lot of debt. Her parents didn't agree to the marriage, so she secretly took the family documents and went to the courthouse with me. On our wedding day, I only had $30 borrowed in my pocket, and we didn't even have money to eat afterward."

"She wasn't angry. She hugged me and laughed, saying she would work hard to make money so I could have food every day and not worry about money, and that she would always be good to me."

Phoebe listened and suddenly felt something was off. Wait, getting married at the courthouse for $30-wasn't it an Aestrale system?

She interrupted Harper's recollection, "Mr. Ziegler, if I may ask, wasn't your wife the eldest daughter of a duke?"

Harper wasn't annoyed by the interruption. He looked at Phoebe quietly and said, "Diana Armstrong is my second wife." Phoebe apologized, "I'm sorry."

She didn't expect Harper to be married twice. So, did Harper have another wife back home? Did they get divorced?

They were so in love back then, defying their parents to get married. How could they have divorced?

"It's okay," Harper said, looking at Phoebe with a complex expression.

Phoebe couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked, "Mr. Ziegler, if you and your first wife were so in love, why didn't you stay together?"

"I was in a shipwreck and barely survived. For the first few years, I couldn't remember anything and was carefully taken care of by Diana. Over time, we fell in love. It wasn't until two years after our marriage that I had a car accident and remembered my past."

Phoebe stared at Harper, stunned that a TV drama plot had come to life. "And then, did you go back to find your wife?"

Harper sighed, "I sent someone to look for her, but there was no news."

Phoebe wanted to ask why Harper didn't go back himself, but she swallowed her words. After all, this was Harper's private matter, and it would be too much to ask further. Harper didn't continue. After dinner, Phoebe took Harper for a walk to explore the nearby area. They strolled around and took breaks in shops whenever they got tired. It was a relaxing and pleasant day.

In the evening, Milton called Phoebe, saying he had reserved a private room at Velvet Sky Bistro for dinner.

Phoebe agreed and sat back down next to Harper.

They were sitting on a bench in the lakeside park, with the sunset turning the sky red. Harper suddenly said, "We've been out all day and haven't taken a photo together." "That's true," Phoebe replied.

Harper suggested, "How about we take one to remember this day?"

Phoebe took out her phone, opened the camera, and adjusted the angle. She said, "Mr. Ziegler, look at the phone and smile."

They both smiled at the phone, and Phoebe quickly pressed the shutter, capturing the moment forever. After taking the photo, she put her phone back in her bag.

"Mr. Ziegler, let's go. Mr. Douglas is waiting for us at Velvet Sky Bistro." Phoebe stood up, her shadow stretching long in the sunset.

Harper looked up at her, his eyes filled with some emotion. After a long while, he stood up and said calmly, "Let's go."

The car was parked outside the park. They walked out, followed by bodyguards who kept their distance and didn't disturb them all day.

Back in the car, Harper seemed tired and looked out the window at the scenery.

Phoebe, with nothing to do, took out her phone to look at the photos she had taken today. Most of them were of Harper.noveldrama

Even in casual clothes, his dignified and commanding presence was undeniable. He was a very charismatic person.

The last photo was taken at sunset, with Harper and her sitting side by side. Harper was smiling at the camera.

It was probably the most genuine smile she had ever seen on Harper in all the photos, with the same curve of the mouth as hers.

Phoebe stared at the photo, feeling it might be her imagination, but she thought she and Harper looked somewhat alike in the picture.

The thought startled her. She quickly turned off her phone, her heart pounding. She must be going crazy.

Phoebe glanced at Harper beside her, recalling what Theodore had said last night-that they might have been family once.

Phoebe squinted, thinking back to their interactions today. Harper didn't seem to treat her as a business prospect but rather like a close younger relative. During dinner, Phoebe was still distracted. Milton, sitting next to her, asked, "Phoebe, are you tired today? You seem out of it." Before he finished speaking, Harper looked at Phoebe with concern.

Phoebe met Harper's gaze and slowly shook her head, "No, I'm just a bit full from eating. Give me a moment to rest, and then I can have another bowl." Harper and Milton both laughed.

After dinner, Harper personally escorted Phoebe to the hotel entrance. He had a Hermès paper bag in his hand and handed it to Phoebe, "Ms. Ziegler, thank you for today. This is a gift I prepared for you." "Mr. Ziegler, this is my duty. I can't accept your gift." Phoebe declined.

Harper's face turned serious, his tone firm yet respectful, "Phoebe, I insist. It would be inappropriate to refuse."

Phoebe hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Harper. I appreciate it."

Out of a sense of reciprocity, she said, "Mr. Ziegler, I remember you mentioned you like Clam Chowder. My mother makes an excellent one. I'll bring some for you tomorrow morning." Harper was taken aback, his expression complex, "Are you sure that wouldn't be too much trouble for your mother?"

"No, not at all. My mom also likes Clam Chowder." Phoebe replied, watching Harper's expression closely. He seemed a bit dazed but then nodded, "Well, if it's no trouble, I'd appreciate it."

"It's no trouble at all, Mr. Ziegler. Have a good evening." Phoebe got into the car with the paper bag, and it slowly drove away.

The neon lights outside the window flashed by. Phoebe took out her phone and searched for information about Harper online.

However, Harper was very low-key in Caneda, and the information available was limited, mostly about his achievements in various fields, with little personal coverage.

She threw her phone back into her bag and rubbed her temples. She might really be crazy to think Harper could be her biological father.